Explain the price different between unlocked and verizon pixel 2xl.

[delta7]

I was looking at a pixel 2xl and someone wanted 540 for a Verizon model with 128gig.

I went to swappa and saw a google unlocked model of the same phone for close to 900 bucks.

I thought the verizon model was factory unlocked so it will work out the box with gsm but why the massive price hike from the google model? Is the google model that much better?

If I'm not mistaken the only real difference is no bloatware on the Google model right? Or does the google model have much more benefits to warrant the price hike?

 

[SpookDroid]

Pretty much the same phone, sans bloatware and 'the middle man' when it comes to updates. Doesn't justify the price, IMHO, but if that's the ongoing price, then it means either there's like two phones available anywhere or people do actually want to buy at that price. Supply/Demand sets the price.

https://www.androidcentral.com/dont-buy-your-google-pixel-verizon

 

[SactoKingsFan]

It's pretty much the same phone and both are $950 if you buy from Google. I've heard the Verizon version installs bloatware if you insert Verizon SIM but the bloatware can be uninstalled. The price can vary quite a bit when looking at places like Swappa. I've seen the smaller Pixel 2 on Amazon for over $1000.

 

[delta7]

Okay since it will work with GSM and other carriers I may pick it up. I don't mind the bloatware stuff.

 

[SpookDroid]

Unlocked Used also goes for 500 on eBay, so might be worth a look. Or if you have anyone that was getting a new phone on Verizon, you can take advantage of the 650-off promo on a second phone (doesn't have to be a Pixel).

 

[Almeuit]

Only difference -- bootloader.

Google - unlocked
Verizon - locked

Otherwise they are the same exact phone and will function the same exact way.

 

[Mike Dee]

It's pretty much the same phone and both are $950 if you buy from Google. I've heard the Verizon version installs bloatware if you insert Verizon SIM but the bloatware can be uninstalled. The price can vary quite a bit when looking at places like Swappa. I've seen the smaller Pixel 2 on Amazon for over $1000.

Verizon sim installs the same things on both but it's minimal anyway

 

[krazyatom]

I paid more for Google edition I don't know how to install custom roms.

 

[Rukbat]

As Almeuit said, the bootloader. So with the Verizon version you can't root, you can't install TWRP, you can't do anything but run normal, "dont-need-root" apps. For a few of us, that's not good enough. (For me, Linux [the operating system in Android phones] is an open OS - meaning that I should be able to get into system storage, I should be able to run apps that need to, I just have to be aware of what I'm doing - which is why SuperSU or su in a desktop installation. But to keep me locked out of 80% of the phone? No, I'll pass.)

Krazy - you install most ROMs in the Pixel the way you install Googl'e ROM - unlock the bootloader, flash the ROM, then lock the bootloader if you don't need root, then reboot. (I do the same thing every month for the updates. I don't see anyone coming out with any interesting ROMs for the Pixel line, but the fact that you can fastboot flash makes installing any ROM trivial.)

 

[krazyatom]

As Almeuit said, the bootloader. So with the Verizon version you can't root, you can't install TWRP, you can't do anything but run normal, "dont-need-root" apps. For a few of us, that's not good enough. (For me, Linux [the operating system in Android phones] is an open OS - meaning that I should be able to get into system storage, I should be able to run apps that need to, I just have to be aware of what I'm doing - which is why SuperSU or su in a desktop installation. But to keep me locked out of 80% of the phone? No, I'll pass.)

Krazy - you install most ROMs in the Pixel the way you install Googl'e ROM - unlock the bootloader, flash the ROM, then lock the bootloader if you don't need root, then reboot. (I do the same thing every month for the updates. I don't see anyone coming out with any interesting ROMs for the Pixel line, but the fact that you can fastboot flash makes installing any ROM trivial.)

Thanks! I will try to install some custom rom myself someday.